Susan Hilton College Station Real Estate
Realtor & Vice President of Sales
Read my blog below
To Vote or Not To Vote - That is the Question!
November 3rd, 2008 Categories: Kids, Family & Personal Stuff
Should you really take the time and vote?
NO - Not if you don’t know anything about the person, the policies, the beliefs, the reputation, the plans, the platform… you should NOT vote! An uninformed voter is worse than not someone not voting since they are voting at the whim of someone else. If you cannot make an informed decision don’t let someone else decide for you. Stay home!
Should someone vote if the race is already decided for their state?
If you know enough to make an informed decision yet Read the rest of this entry »
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Pumpkin Carving Contest - College Station Texas
October 27th, 2008 Categories: Community Events
Ready to carve a pumpkin?
Benjamin Knox Art Center is hosting a Pumpkin Carving Contest!
Take your pumpkin and a canned food item to the Benjamin Knox Art Center during business hours on October 28th - October 30th. The winners will be announced on October 31st at 5:30 pm during the Halloween Party.
Sounds like LOTS OF fun!
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Sprinkler System Required in a New Texas House? WHAT????
October 24th, 2008 Categories: Home Improvement & Design
DId you know that we have a new International Residential Code (minimum standard for the building code followed in Texas) is going to require fire sprinklers in single and two family homes and townhomes for homes built after January 1, 2011?
When I first read this I thought they were referring to the sprinkler systems in the yard - NO WAY! This is talking about the INTERIOR of homes!
What did the National Association of Homebuilders (NAH) think? They were not in favor of the mandate. NAH said the additional cost and maintenance was not justified. Habitat for Humanity agreed! It is too costly!
The National Fire Protection Association sponsored a study and reported this will increase costs from $.38 to $3.66 per square foot - averaging out at $1.61 per square foot increase. There may be some insurance discounts but not enough to cover the expense -
About the only good thing is that it is not retroactive!
Susan Hilton - Realtor & Sales Trainer for Century 21 Beal
Want to Search the Bryan/College Station Real Estate MLS? CLICK HERE!!!
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I Finally Decided and I Cast My Vote For…
October 21st, 2008 Categories: Kids, Family & Personal Stuff
Surely you didn’t think I’d tell who I voted for did you? Sure many of you think you know who I voted for but no one was in the little booth (which really isn’t a booth at all anymore but more like a little stand with a little canopy) with me.
You may see the sign in my yard showing support for one candidate. You may hear me talk about who I like or who I don’t. You may hear who I think will lower taxes, protect our country, make sure my children have a country worth having but you’ll never know for sure who I voted for BUT what really matters is whether YOU choose to vote. Will you take the time to exercise your right to vote? (Why do we say exerciese? Why don’t we say “take the time to ENJOY your right to vote?”
Just in case you don’t know when and were to early vote, take a few minutes and FIND OUT! It will only affect you for the rest of your life, and your children’s lives and your grandchildren….. Read the rest of this entry »
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Time to Inspect Your Property - How Do You Prepare?
October 21st, 2008 Categories: Selling Real Estate
So you’ve sold your house and now the buyers are going to do inspections. Should you worry? Do you need to do anything to get ready?
YES YES YES!
When you and a buyer come to an agreement on price and terms you want to make sure nothing goes wrong. Below are a few ideas to help make the inspection process go as smoothly as possible.
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Pets - Make sure all animals are off property for the inspection. No inspector wants to dodge the dog or let the cat out or find the snake in the kid’s bedroom.
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Turn on the utilities! Make sure everything is on especially if you don’t live in the property. Check the electricity, gas and water.
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Make sure all the pilot lights are lit - water and air!
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Light bulbs? Make sure all are working great. You don’t want the inspector to write up that you need an electrician when all you need is a light bulb.
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Check the a/c filters & vents. Replace the a/c filter. Clean the vents. You want no dirt or dust anywhere.
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Trim the bushes and trees away from the house. Make sure the inspector can easily get to all sides of the house. Also make sure the dirt is not too high around the slab. Pull the dirt away from the slab and the weep holes. Tree limbs should not touch the roof either.
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Smoke detectors - replace the batteries!
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Is anything missing? Are all the knobs on the stove and cabinets? Are the latches on the windows working? Where are the window screens? Any broken glass? Have the windows lost their seal? Fix the problems BEFORE the inspector arrives!
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UNLOCK! Make sure the insepctor can get to every room, garage, outbuilding, breaker box, fenced area, attic, crawl space and if you live in certain areas… basement.
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Clean and straighten. A home that looks clean and straight will inspect much better than a dirty, cluttered home.
Yes, it takes a little effort to get everything ready before the inspector but it is MUCH cheaper in the long run!
Susan Hilton - Realtor & Sales Trainer for Century 21 Beal
Want to Search the Bryan/College Station Real Estate MLS? CLICK HERE!!!
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